Roller drive for kelly joints



March 2, 1943. o. L. DERRICK ROLLER DRIVE FOR KELLY JOINTS Filed Jan. 50, 1940 3 Shets-Sheet l INVEIETOR. 0scqrL.Derr10k 4L ATTORNEY.

March 2,1943. o. 1.. DERRlCK 2,312,323

-ROLLER DRIVE FOR KELLY JOINTS Filed Jan. 30, 1940 3 Sheets -Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Oscar L.Derr1 0k ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1943. o. DERRICK ROLLER DRIVE FOR KELLY JOINTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 r Filed Jan. 30, .1940

INVEZNTOR. Oscar L.Derr1 ck ATTQRNEY.

' roller guide forKe'lly'j'oints of the character used kenaway' and in section; inrotary tables of'rotary drilling rigs. 'Fig." 3' is .a vertical sectional view through the "or Kelly joint is'rotated by a rotary table located at the derrick floor While permitting vertical "the line 4'4 ofFigI 1, with partsiin elevation;

" movement of the drill stem orrkelly' thereth'rough "Fig.5 isa horizontalsectiorial view on the line to accomplish the drillingoperation. A guide 5 ofFig. 1;

bushing is provided usually inthe table to impart iFig. 611s a" detachedperspective view of the the turning movement to the drill stem or kelly 10' bearing 'boxremoved from'the roller assembly;

while permitting "of said Vertical movement. igf is a side'elevation, pa y in section,

'Heretofore, suohbushingsihavebeen composed showing 'a' modifiedform of .the'invent o of metal bushings having an opening therein of Fig; 8 is atop plan view thereof, with parts 'of th opening, wean occurs repeatedly on the Fig; 10 is averticaljs'cction through one of the Kelly joint and bushing and frequent repairsand .slots and bearing boxes.

general use, Ishownin thel'form of a. square or polygonal kelly The object ofthis invention is to dispense with frequently used With rotary drilling app stheusualguide bushing for the drill stemvwhile For the purp s f ui'dins the kelly or. drill providing'for freedomof longitudinal movement Stem While imparting turning movement theretO, 'ofthe drillstem relative tothe rotary tabledur- I have provided. glide-bushing p isin a kelly that is usually square r flut i n 40 pair of rollers 'llguiding'the kelly'while imparting fective manner. "This provides freedom forlone 45a bushing body insure a PTpe1lg1iidingfiC- gether withamodification thereof, are illustrated ends of each roller (form reduced -p vsection to show details of construction; ,55 down a single bar-of steel, thereby materially Patented Mar. 2, 1943 ROLLER DRIVE. FORJKELIiY-JJOINTS scar L Derrick, -Wichita'; Falla' T-ex assignor-Jof five-twelfths to v D. HoustonfEBolin, nandi". fourtwelfths'zto Henry L. Rugely; bothof "Wichita Falls,Tex.

p t n anuary 30, 1940,?Seri'a'FNoi3163123 Claims. (011 3084 This invention relates to an' improvementin Fig. 2 is atoplplan'view'thereof, Withpartsbro- In the rotary methodbf drilling, the drill'stem bushing on the line S 3of Fig.2;

. 'Fig'; 4 is a cross sectional viewtherethrough on a size and shape to receivethe drill stem or kelly brokenaway and insea and permit of'longitudinal movement thereof -I sas QmD'ai1tly- SG'C'ti'Om f a While it is being rotated. -"Due to the. frictional y, 91 6 4 and 'Q a yl' contact 'ofthe'lKelly joint with the inner walls v e'ntion applied thereto; and

replacement are necessary. Some suggestions h s v ition isfds 'ed for use i ofi y have been madefor the use of guide rollers in the "table of the bharalcteffihown generally n 1 bushings but, for the most part thesev have not {for GbI'lIleCtiDIi d 0' impart turning b practical have t: been adopted for "movement toa drill stem"2. "This drillstem is ing the i ti of a turning movement 1-, t sboldy Iportionfdesignated generally by the numeral and'without material. wearbetweenthedrillstem 3,8115 having? Square/base with a d pe d and bushing. 'Provision is made to compensate 'cbnic'al Portion" Thebasdgvand 001116941 p for any wear th t doesoecur b dj t t o'futhe tiori 5 are shaped and constructed to fit in .seats parts ut at thesa 'ntjm Wear is reduced, a correspondingly shaped andformedin the rotary minimum, eliminatingodanger of breakage f table I toprovide a tight fit or: the bushingbody parts and e hazard of-operatjon, u j n 3-With saidtable. The bushing body 3 has acendent to the use of rotary table'drive bushings. al'opening 6 therethmughlmigi 3) Slifiicient I thi invention, Opposing rollers areprovided size to permit freedomoi movement .ofthe drill which are'mounted. for rolling contact with optem therethrough' posite sides of adrill stem, such as a polygonal Disposed on Opposite/sides Ofithe Y 2 is a a d th rollersere mounted fo adjustment theretothe turning movement of the rotaryrtable. w d f 'th axis of the bushing, and for The rollers 1 are. mounted fror turning. movement secure fastening in adjusted positions-totake, up a al erse axes an'dvareipreferablyradjustfor ny.wear doe occur. in a and:ef able toward andfrom "axis rotary table gitudinal movement ofthe drillstem relative to fion Ofihe w.

the rotary table while prOViding a driving relah of the 9 T- i with guide tion therebetween, so as to rotate the-drillstem flanges spaced longitudinally from each other by turning men f thetab1e a distance sufiicient to receive. the kelly there- A preferred embod-iment'of'this inventionpito-to between, as Shown m d bpp s te in t accompanying drawings, in which; tions 9,*each outer end of which is screw-thread- Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the rotary table d a ll!- 'E h r l r T-is formed n l wi h drive bushing, Withparts broken-away and in t e flanges 8 and-reduced ends 9, by dressing reducing the danger of breakage due to the heavier construction and the reduction of wear substantially to the point of contact with the kelly.

Each opposite end of the roller 1 is journaled in a bearing box II in anti-friction bearings I2, which are shown as tapered roller bearings that are adapted to be held in place and adjusted by a nut I3 on the threaded portion lb of the roller shaft Q. Spanner wrench holes M are provided in the flanges 8 of the roller 1 for holding each roller against turning during the tightening of the adjusting nut l3. A cotter pin extends through the roller shaft 9 and engages the nut l3 to prevent loosening thereof and of the.

bearings.

Each bearing box H has its body portion sub-- stantially square, as shown in Fig. 6, but it has a flange It on one end thereof and a threaded portion l! on the opposite end thereof.

The bearing boxes II for the corresponding ends of the pair of rollers I are mounted in a slot l8 formed in an upstanding side H3 at each opposite end of the pair of rollers between posts 2%! at the opposite ends of each side la. The upper ends of the posts are connected together by a bar 2| detachably connected thereto as by bolts 22, and closing the upper side of the slot H3. The bar 2| together with the upstanding posts 20, form the upper portion of the side wall I9 in which the slot I8 is formed for receiving the bearing boxes ll of each opposite end of the pair of rollers l.

The flange IS on the inner end of bearing box engages the inner face of the side wall |9 at the upper and lower edges of the slot IS, with said reduced threaded portion ll of the bearing box extending outwardly through the slot and being engaged by a cap nut 23 screwed thereon, with a washer 24 interposed between the inner face of the cap nut 23 and the outer face of the side wall l9. The nut 23 is provided preferably with radial holes 25 in the periphery thereof for engagement by a spanner wrench to facilitate tightening and loosening thereof on the bearing box.

The interior of each bearing box H as closed by the cap nut 23, forms a closed chamber 26 adapted to receive lubricant for the bearings l2.

A lubricant fitting is shown at 21 in the cap nut 23 through which lubricant may be introduced into the chamber 26. A flat packing washer 28 closes the inner side of the lubricant chamber 26 between the inner end of the bearing box H and the shaft portion 9 of the roller to confine the lubricant to said chamber.

The bearing boxes H are adapted for relatively close sliding fit in the opposite ends of each wall slot [8 to receive the drill stem or kelly therebetween. When wear occurs and it is desired to adjust either or both of the rollers transversely toward or from the central axis of the opening 5, coaxial of the table I, the bearing boxes I I may be moved inward a sufficient distance, and shims of the required thickness inserted behind the bearing boxes between the same and the corresponding posts 20, as indicated at 29. These shims will serve to hold the bearing boxes in their properly adjusted positions relative to the bushing body.

The rollers I and upper portion of the bushing body are enclosed within a cover so, rigidly secured to said body by set screws 3| that engage theupper ends of the posts 2%. The cover 353 has a central opening 32 therein of appreciable y, kelly.

size sufficient for freedom of movement of the kelly or drill stem downward therethrough and between the rollers. Thus, the cover 39 prevents the operator from becoming entangled in the rotary bushing drive assembly, while it is rotating at high speed and yet it does not prevent freedom of movement of the kelly therethrough between the rollers. The cover also serves as a shield for the slots l8, bearing boxes H and cap nuts 23, tending to reduce the accumulation of oil, mud, and foreign substances thereon, and for adjustment of these parts as may be required.

The cover 39 is provided also with ribs 33 on the inner side thereof and arranged on each opposite side of the central axis of the body, as shown in Fig. 2, in position to engage over or substantially bear upon the outer upper edge of the cap nuts 23 when screwed into place to prevent said nuts from working loose accidentally, disturbing the secure mounting of the rollers.

During the operation of the guide bushing for the kelly, the longitudinal movement of the latter will cause turning movement of the rollers I, reducing the wear thereon, as well-as on the However, when wear occurs either on the rollers or on the kelly, the bearing boxes I may be adjusted to compensate for this wear, by 1005- ening the cap nuts 23 and sliding the bearing boxes toward each other to the desired extent for providing the proper engagement of the rollers with opposite sides of the kelly. Thereafter, the tightening of the cap nuts 23 securely clamps the bearing boxes in place by frictional engagement with opposite sides of each wall J9 and preventing the bearing boxes from working loose or displacing the ends of the rollers. The shims 29 may be used as a further means of holding the bearing boxes in place, if desired. These rollers may be adjusted also to accommodate drill stems of different sizes either smaller or larger, being moved toward or from each other and then securely clamped in place.

The modification of the invention shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 10, comprises a body 4| having side Wall portions 42 in which laterally extending oblique slots 43 are formed between the opposite side posts 44 and a central post 45 connected together at the top by side bars 46. Therollers 41 have opposite ends thereof mounted in bearing boxes 48 fitted and slidably mounted in the laterally extending oblique slots 43 for adjustment therein toward and from the central axis of the body 4|. The construction and mounting of the rollers are substantially the same as described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, but in addition to the clamping action of the bearing boxes 48, adjusting screws 49 are provided in the side bars 46 for forcing the bearing boxes 48 downward, and directing the rollers into closely bearing engagement with opposite sides of the kelly. The downwardly inclined relation of the slots 43 provides for sumcient adjustment of therollers and yet utilizes a more compact structure for adjustably mounting the guide rollers in the rotary table. It provides also for a greater component of force against the side posts 44, with more secure mounting of the rollers in a compact unit.

To accommodate for the adjusting screws 49, the cover 50 is secured upon upstanding arms 5| at the upper ends of the posts 44, from which the cover 50 extends downward over the bodyrportion and around the rollers to enclose and protect the same, as described above.

Where the guide rollers'are thus adjustable toward and from the axis of the drill stem; they may be moved to. accommodate awide rangeof sizes of kelly joints, 7 while yet: using... the. same rollers. This is even more' true otthezformshown in Figsj 1' to 6, where the slots are open: from side to; side oi the kelly for ready adjustment of-the rollers to the extent that may be necessary ac.- cording to the size oi kelly used.

I claim:

l. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming a pair of guideways extending laterally at an angle to the axis of the drill stem opening, means for guiding the drill stem through the opening including a roller having opposite ends mounted in the guideways and adjustable toward and from the axis of the opening, and means bearing against opposite sides of the guideways for secur-v ing said roller in a plurality of laterally adjusted positions relative to the axis of the drill stem opening.

2. A guide bushing for a :drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming. a pair of spaced slots on opposite sides of the axis of the body andlextending laterally at an angle thereto, means for guiding said drill stem through the body opening including a roller having opposite ends mounted in the slots and adjustable therein toward and from the axis of the opening, and means having clamping engagement with opposite sides of each of the slots for adjustably securing the opposite ends of the roller in different laterally adjusted positions relative to the axis of the opening.

3. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening thereinfor receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming a pair of spaced slots on opposite sides of the axis of the body and extending laterally at an angle thereto, means for guiding said drill stem through the body opening including a roller, bearing boxes having means journaling opposite ends of the roller and mounted in the slots for slidable adjustment toward and from the axis of the opening, and means having clamping en.- gagement with opposite sides of the slots for securing said bearing boxes and roller in different laterally adjusted positions relative tothe axis of the opening,

4. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming a pair of spaced slots on opposite sides of the axis of the body and extending laterally at an angle thereto, means for guiding said drill stem through the body opening including a roller having projecting ends integral therewith, bearing boxes receiving and journaling said ends of the roller, said bearing boxes being slidably mounted in the slots for adjustment toward and from the axis of the opening, and means connected with the bearing boxes providing clamping engagement with opposite sides of each slot for securing the bearing boxes and the roller in different adjusted positions relative to the axis of the opening.

5. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming a pair of spaced slots on opposite sides of the axis of the body and extending laterally at an angle thereto, means for guiding said drill stem through the body opening including a roller having reduced opposite ends integral therewith, bearing boxes receiving said reduced ends of the rollers and. having anti-friction. bearings; .j ournaling the same for turning movement therein, saidbearing boxes being ;mounted. in v the slots for lateral adjustmentxtoward and from a. me: dial. plane. through. thew-axis .of the openingto differentiadjuStedpoSitions.relativetheret each bearing box having a. flange thereon, bearing againstone side .ofLthemeansforming the slot and having a .cap nut .threadedthereon .and bear-. ing against the opposite side of said means for clamping the bearing box therebetween.

6. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having means forming a pair of spaced slots on opposite sides of the axis of the body and extending laterally at an angle thereto, means for guiding said drill stem through the body opening including a roller having reduced opposite ends integral therewith, bearing boxes receiving said reduced ends of the rollers and having anti-friction bearings journaling the same for turning movement therein, said bearing boxes being mounted in the slots for lateral adjustment toward and from a medial plane through the axis of the opening to different adjusted positions relative thereto, each bearing box having a flange thereon bearing against one side of the means forming the slot and having a cap nut threaded thereon and bearing against the opposite side of said means for clamping the bearing box therebetween, and a cover secured to the body and enclosing the upper portion thereof, said cover having means rigid therewith extending substantially into bearing relation with the cap nuts to prevent loosening thereof on the bearing boxes.

7. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body adapted to receive the drill stem therethrough, and means for guiding the drill stem through the body including a roller, a bearing box mounted on the body and journaling each end portion of the roller, said body having a guideway receiving the bearing box, and means connected with the bearing box and having clamping engagement with the guideway for securely fastening the bearing box in place therein.

8. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body adapted to receive the drill stem therethrough, and means for guiding the drill stem through the body including a roller, a bearing box mounted on the body and journaling each end portion of the roller, said body having a guideway, receiving the bearing box, said bearing box having a flange on one side thereof bearing against one side of the guideway, and a nut threaded on the opposite side of the bearing box and bearing against the opposite side of the guideway for coacting with the flange to clamp the bearing box in place on the guideway.

9. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having upstanding sides thereon, each having a pair of laterally spaced posts, a. connecting bar extending between the upper ends of the posts of each pair and cooperating with the side and posts to form a slot in the side extending transversely of the axis of the body between the posts, a pair of rollers having the opposite ends thereof mounted in the slots and slidable therein toward and from each otherv for receiving therebetween the drill stem, and means for securing said rollers in adjusted positions relative to each other.

10. A guide bushing for a drill stem comprising a body having an opening therein for receiving the drill stem, said body having upstanding sides thereon, each of .said sides having a pair of upwardly extending and laterally diverging slots formed therein with the lower inner ends of said slots extending toward a plane through the axis of? the body, guide rollers for the drill stem mounted in the slots and bodily adjustable along the slots for movement toward and from said plane, bearings mounted in the slots and journaling the rollers, and means for clamping the bearings in fixed positions relative to the slots.

OSCAR L. DERRICK. 

